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Sleep parameters in patients with chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis: a case-control study

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To compare patients with chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (cHP) and controls with normal spirometry in terms of their sleep characteristics, as well as to establish the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and nocturnal hypoxemia. Secondary objectives were to identify factors associated with OSA and nocturnal hypoxemia; to correlate nocturnal hypoxemia with the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and lung function, as well as with resting SpO2, awake SpO2, and SpO2 during exercise; and to evaluate the discriminatory power of sleep questionnaires to predict OSA.

Methods:

A total of 40 patients with cHP (cases) were matched for sex, age, and BMI with 80 controls, the ratio of controls to cases therefore being = 2:1. The STOP-Bang questionnaire, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Berlin questionnaire and the Neck circumference, obesity, Snoring, Age, and Sex (NoSAS) score were applied to all cases, and both groups underwent full-night polysomnography.

Results:

The patients with cHP had longer sleep latency, lower sleep efficiency, a lower AHI, a lower respiratory disturbance index, fewer central apneas, fewer mixed apneas, and fewer hypopneas than did the controls. The patients with cHP had significantly lower nocturnal SpO2 values, the percentage of total sleep time spent below an SpO2 of 90% being higher than in controls (median = 4.2; IQR, 0.4-32.1 vs. median = 1.0; IQR, 0.1-5.8; p = 0.01). There were no significant differences between cases with and without OSA regarding the STOP-Bang questionnaire, NoSAS, and ESS scores.

Conclusions:

The prevalence of OSA in cHP patients (cases) was high, although not higher than that in controls with normal spirometry. In addition, cases had more hypoxemia during sleep than did controls. Our results suggest that sleep questionnaires do not have sufficient discriminatory power to identify OSA in cHP patients.

Keywords:
Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic; Lung diseases, interstitial; Sleep apnea, obstructive; Hypoxia

RESUMO

Objetivo:

Comparar pacientes com pneumonite de hipersensibilidade crônica (PHc) e controles com espirometria normal quanto às características do sono, bem como estabelecer a prevalência de apneia obstrutiva do sono (AOS) e hipoxemia noturna. Os objetivos secundários foram identificar fatores associados à AOS e hipoxemia noturna; correlacionar a hipoxemia noturna com o índice de apneias e hipopneias (IAH), função pulmonar, SpO2 em repouso, SpO2 em vigília e SpO2 durante o exercício; e avaliar o poder discriminatório de questionários do sono para predizer AOS.

Métodos:

Um total de 40 pacientes com PHc (casos) foram emparelhados por sexo, idade e IMC com 80 controles (2:1). O questionário STOP-Bang, a Escala de Sonolência de Epworth (ESE), o Índice de Qualidade do Sono de Pittsburgh, o questionário de Berlim e o escore Neck circumference, obesity, Snoring, Age, and Sex (NoSAS, circunferência do pescoço, obesidade, ronco, idade e sexo) foram aplicados a todos os casos, e ambos os grupos foram submetidos a polissonografia de noite inteira.

Resultados:

Os pacientes com PHc apresentaram maior latência do sono, menor eficiência do sono, menor IAH, menor índice de distúrbio respiratório, menos apneias centrais, menos apneias mistas e menos hipopneias do que os controles. Os pacientes com PHc apresentaram SpO2 noturna significativamente menor; a porcentagem do tempo total de sono com SpO2 < 90% foi maior que nos controles (mediana = 4,2; IIQ: 0,4-32,1 vs. mediana = 1,0; IIQ: 0,1-5,8; p = 0,01). Não houve diferenças significativas entre os casos com e sem AOS quanto à pontuação no questionário STOP-Bang, no NoSAS e na ESE.

Conclusões:

A prevalência de AOS em pacientes com PHc (casos) foi alta, embora não tenha sido maior que a observada em controles com espirometria normal. Além disso, os casos apresentaram mais hipoxemia durante o sono do que os controles. Nossos resultados sugerem que os questionários do sono não têm poder discriminatório suficiente para identificar AOS em pacientes com PHc.

Descritores:
Alveolite alérgica extrínseca; Doenças pulmonares intersticiais; Apneia obstrutiva do sono; Hipóxia

INTRODUCTION

Chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (cHP) is an interstitial lung disease (ILD) caused by an exaggerated immune reaction to inhaled antigens found in the environment.11 Pereira CA, Gimenez A, Kuranishi L, Storrer K. Chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis. J Asthma Allergy. 2016;9:171-181. https://doi.org/10.2147/JAA.S81540
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,22 Costabel U, Bonella F, Guzman J. Chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Clin Chest Med. 2012;33(1):151-163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccm.2011.12.004
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccm.2011.12.00...
cHP occurs in susceptible individuals, and its prevalence varies worldwide. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is a very common ILD in Brazil.33 Pereira CA, Soares M, Botelho AB, Gimenez A, Beraldo B, Fukuda CY, et al. Multicenter registry of interstitial lung diseases in adults in Brazil. Am J Resp Crit Care Med. 2020;201:A4452. https://doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm-conference.2020.201.1_MeetingAbstracts.A3352
https://doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm-conferenc...
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and ILD have some comorbidities and symptoms in common, such as daytime sleepiness, fatigue, reduced quality of life, and pulmonary hypertension.44 Pihtili A, Bingol Z, Kiyan E, Cuhadaroglu C, Issever H, Gulbaran Z. Obstructive sleep apnea is common in patients with interstitial lung disease. Sleep Breath. 2013;17(4):1281-1288. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-013-0834-3
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-013-0834-...

5 Lancaster LH, Mason WR, Parnell JA, Rice TW, Loyd JE, Milstone AP, et al. Obstructive sleep apnea is common in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Chest. 2009;136(3):772-778. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.08-2776
https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.08-2776...

6 Mermigkis C, Stagaki E, Tryfon S, Schiza S, Amfilochiou A, Polychronopoulos V, et al. How common is sleep-disordered breathing in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?. Sleep Breath. 2010;14(4):387-390. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-010-0336-5
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-010-0336-...

7 Aydogdu M, Ciftçi B, Firat Güven S, Ulukavak Ciftçi T, Erdogan Y. Assessment of sleep with polysomnography in patients with interstitial lung disease [Article in Turkish]. Tuberk Toraks. 2006;54(3):213-221.

8 Troy LK, Young IH, Lau EMT, Wong KKH, Yee BJ, Torzillo PJ, et al. Nocturnal hypoxaemia is associated with adverse outcomes in interstitial lung disease. Respirology. 2019;24(10):996-1004. https://doi.org/10.1111/resp.13549
https://doi.org/10.1111/resp.13549...

9 Mermigkis C, Stagaki E, Amfilochiou A, Polychronopoulos V, Korkonikitas P, Mermigkis D, et al. Sleep quality and associated daytime consequences in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Med Princ Pract. 2009;18(1):10-15. https://doi.org/10.1159/000163039
https://doi.org/10.1159/000163039...
-1010 Kolilekas L, Manali E, Vlami KA, Lyberopoulos P, Triantafillidou C, Kagouridis K, et al. Sleep oxygen desaturation predicts survival in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. J Clin Sleep Med. 2013;9(6):593-601. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.2758
https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.2758...
Only a few studies of chronic ILD have examined sleep, despite the fact that sleep disorders appear to be common in ILD patients.44 Pihtili A, Bingol Z, Kiyan E, Cuhadaroglu C, Issever H, Gulbaran Z. Obstructive sleep apnea is common in patients with interstitial lung disease. Sleep Breath. 2013;17(4):1281-1288. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-013-0834-3
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-013-0834-...

5 Lancaster LH, Mason WR, Parnell JA, Rice TW, Loyd JE, Milstone AP, et al. Obstructive sleep apnea is common in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Chest. 2009;136(3):772-778. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.08-2776
https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.08-2776...

6 Mermigkis C, Stagaki E, Tryfon S, Schiza S, Amfilochiou A, Polychronopoulos V, et al. How common is sleep-disordered breathing in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?. Sleep Breath. 2010;14(4):387-390. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-010-0336-5
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-010-0336-...

7 Aydogdu M, Ciftçi B, Firat Güven S, Ulukavak Ciftçi T, Erdogan Y. Assessment of sleep with polysomnography in patients with interstitial lung disease [Article in Turkish]. Tuberk Toraks. 2006;54(3):213-221.
-88 Troy LK, Young IH, Lau EMT, Wong KKH, Yee BJ, Torzillo PJ, et al. Nocturnal hypoxaemia is associated with adverse outcomes in interstitial lung disease. Respirology. 2019;24(10):996-1004. https://doi.org/10.1111/resp.13549
https://doi.org/10.1111/resp.13549...
,1111 Pereira N, Cardoso AV, Mota PC, Santos AC, Melo N, Morais A, et al. Predictive factors of obstructive sleep apnoea in patients with fibrotic lung diseases. Sleep Med. 2019;56:123-127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2019.01.020
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2019.01....

12 Bosi M, Milioli G, Fanfulla F, Tomassetti S, Ryu JH, Parrino L, et al. OSA and Prolonged Oxygen Desaturation During Sleep are Strong Predictors of Poor Outcome in IPF. Lung. 2017;195(5):643-651. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-017-0031-4
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-017-0031-...
-1313 Gille T, Didier M, Boubaya M, Moya L, Sutton A, Carton Z, et al. Obstructive sleep apnoea and related comorbidities in incident idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Eur Respir J. 2017;49(6):1601934. https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.01934-2016
https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.01934-2...
In a study including 21 patients with fibrotic HP, the prevalence of OSA was found to be similar between patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and those with cHP (83.3% vs. 76.2%).1111 Pereira N, Cardoso AV, Mota PC, Santos AC, Melo N, Morais A, et al. Predictive factors of obstructive sleep apnoea in patients with fibrotic lung diseases. Sleep Med. 2019;56:123-127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2019.01.020
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2019.01....

The objective of the present study was to compare patients with cHP and controls with normal spirometry in terms of their sleep characteristics, as well as to establish the prevalence of OSA and nocturnal hypoxemia. Secondary objectives were to identify factors associated with OSA and nocturnal hypoxemia; to correlate nocturnal hypoxemia with the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and lung function, as well as with resting SpO2, awake SpO2, and SpO2 during exercise; and to evaluate the discriminatory power of sleep questionnaires to predict OSA.

METHODS

Study participants

This was a retrospective case-control study conducted between March of 2016 and December of 2019 at the Federal University of São Paulo, located in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Patients diagnosed with cHP and meeting the inclusion criteria were consecutively included in the study. A total of 154 cHP patients were eligible during the period. Of those, 40 (cases) were selected for inclusion in the study. They were matched for sex, age (± 5 years), and BMI (± 5 kg/m2) with 80 controls with normal spirometry.1414 Tufik S, Santos-Silva R, Taddei JA, Bittencourt LR. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in the Sao Paulo Epidemiologic Sleep Study. Sleep Med. 2010;11(5):441-446. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2009.10.005
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2009.10....
The ratio of controls to cases was 2:1. When more than two controls were available for a case, the selection was made by random number generation.

The diagnosis of cHP was based on the criteria suggested by Salisbury et al.1515 Salisbury ML, Myers JL, Belloli EA, Kazerooni EA, Martinez FJ, Flaherty KR. Diagnosis and Treatment of Fibrotic Hypersensitivity Pneumonia. Where We Stand and Where We Need to Go. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2017;196(6):690-699. https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201608-1675PP
https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201608-1675...
Cases were not specifically selected because they had sleep problems or complaints, and controls had no history of lung disease. The exclusion criteria were as follows: age > 80 years; inability to perform spirometry; use of long-term home oxygen therapy or a resting SpO2 ≤ 89%; a reduced FEV1/FVC ratio (of < 0.7); ILD exacerbation or progressive ILD; a left ventricular ejection fraction of ≤ 50% on echocardiography; alcoholism; uncontrolled hypothyroidism; systemic diseases that could independently result in pulmonary hypertension; use of hypnotics; and unstable psychiatric disorder. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of São Paulo (Protocol no. 1.162.941), and all participating patients gave written informed consent.

Study protocol

Patients with cHP (cases) underwent biochemical and hematological evaluation; arterial blood gas analysis; HRCT; and echocardiography. The modified Mallampati score and neck circumference were assessed in all cases. The STOP-Bang questionnaire, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Berlin questionnaire, and the Neck circumference, obesity, Snoring, Age, and Sex (NoSAS) score were applied to all cases.1616 Fonseca LB, Silveira EA, Lima NM, Rabahi MF. STOP-Bang questionnaire: translation to Portuguese and cross-cultural adaptation for use in Brazil. J Bras Pneumol. 2016;42(4):266-272. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1806-37562015000000243
https://doi.org/10.1590/s1806-3756201500...

17 Johns MW. A new method for measuring daytime sleepiness: the Epworth sleepiness scale. Sleep. 1991;14(6):540-545. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/14.6.540
https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/14.6.540...

18 Buysse DJ, Reynolds CF 3rd, Monk TH, Berman SR, Kupfer DJ. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: a new instrument for psychiatric practice and research. Psychiatry Res. 1989;28(2):193-213. https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-1781(89)90047-4
https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-1781(89)900...

19 Netzer NC, Stoohs RA, Netzer CM, Clark K, Strohl KP. Using the Berlin Questionnaire to identify patients at risk for the sleep apnea syndrome. Ann Intern Med. 1999;131(7):485-491. https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-131-7-199910050-00002
https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-131-7-...
-2020 Marti-Soler H, Hirotsu C, Marques-Vidal P, Vollenweider P, Waeber G, Preisig M, et al. The NoSAS score for screening of sleep-disordered breathing: a derivation and validation study. Lancet Respir Med. 2016;4(9):742-748. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(16)30075-3
https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(16)30...
A high risk of OSA was defined as follows: five or more positive responses to the STOP-Bang questionnaire; two positive responses to the STOP-Bang questionnaire + being male; two positive responses to the STOP-Bang questionnaire + a BMI > 35 kg/m2; or two positive responses to the STOP-Bang questionnaire + neck circumference ≥ 43 cm (for men) or ≥ 41 cm (for women).

Full-night polysomnography was performed in accordance with current standards.2121 American Academy of Sleep Medicine. The AASM Manual for the Scoring of Sleep and Associated Events: Rules, Terminology and Technical Specifications, version 2.2. Darien, IL: American Academy of Sleep Medicine; 2015. Obstructive apnea was defined as a reduction in airflow ≥ 90% lasting at least 10 s with evidence of persistent respiratory effort. Obstructive hypopnea was defined as a reduction in airflow ≥ 30% for more than 10 s accompanied by ≥ 4% oxygen desaturation and evidence of respiratory effort. Respiratory effort-related arousals were also recorded, being defined as sequences of breaths lasting ≥ 10 s, with increased respiratory effort or flattening of the inspiratory curve, leading to awakening but not meeting the defined criteria for apnea or hypopnea. Nocturnal hypoxemia was defined as the percentage of total sleep time spent below an SpO2 of 90% (T90). Significant nocturnal hypoxemia was defined as spending 10% or more of the total sleep time below an SpO2 of 90%.88 Troy LK, Young IH, Lau EMT, Wong KKH, Yee BJ, Torzillo PJ, et al. Nocturnal hypoxaemia is associated with adverse outcomes in interstitial lung disease. Respirology. 2019;24(10):996-1004. https://doi.org/10.1111/resp.13549
https://doi.org/10.1111/resp.13549...
Spirometry and DLCO measurement were performed in accordance with current standards. Oxygen saturation was assessed by oximetry at rest and at the end of a four-minute step test. Desaturation was characterized by a decrease ≥ 4% at the end of the test.

Statistical analysis

The data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation or median (interquartile range). The prevalence of OSA was compared between cases and controls by means of the chi-square test. The normal distribution of the data was assessed with the Shapiro-Wilk test. Between-group comparisons were made with the Mann-Whitney test, given that most of the variables had a nonparametric distribution. Correlations of the AHI with other variables were determined by Spearman’s test. In the group of patients with cHP (cases), T90 and the degree of nocturnal hypoxemia were calculated and correlated by means of univariate analysis of pulmonary function test results, PaO2, PaCO2, sleep questionnaire data, oxygen desaturation at the end of exercise, and polysomnographic parameters. A value of p < 0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

The general characteristics of the study sample are shown in Table 1. The mean age was 59 years, with a predominance of females (75%). There was no difference between cases and controls in terms of age, sex, or BMI, as expected by the matching criteria. The modified Mallampati score showed that 30 (75%) of the cHP patients were at a high risk of OSA (Mallampati classes III and IV). The results of the pulmonary function tests and arterial blood gas analysis in the patients with cHP are shown in Table 2. There was a mild decrease in FVC and a moderate decrease in DLCO. Mean PaCO2 was in the lower reference range. Twenty-eight (70%) of the patients with cHP experienced oxygen desaturation at the end of exercise. Seventeen (42.5%) of the patients with cHP using corticosteroids at a dose ≥ 20 mg/day were included. When compared with those who were using a lower dose of corticosteroids or who were not receiving corticosteroid therapy, there was no difference in the AHI, BMI, neck circumference, or sleep quality as assessed by the PSQI (data not shown).

Table 1
General characteristics of cases and controls in the present study.a
Table 2
Pulmonary function test results and arterial blood gas analysis results in patients with chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (n = 40).a

The results of polysomnography for both groups are shown in Table 3. The patients with cHP had longer sleep latency and lower sleep efficiency than did those in the control group. The arousal index was higher in the control group. Unexpectedly, the patients with cHP had a lower AHI, a lower respiratory disturbance index, fewer central apneas, fewer mixed apneas, and fewer hypopneas. An AHI ≥ 5 events/hour was common in cases and controls (67.5% vs. 82.5%; Χ2 = 3.44; p = 0.06). Moderate to severe OSA was found in 47.5% of the controls and in 25% of the cases (Χ2 = 5.65; p = 0.02). However, the patients with cHP had significantly lower nocturnal SpO2 values, the percentage of total sleep time spent below an SpO2 of 90% being higher than in controls.

Table 3
Polysomnography data and nocturnal oximetry results in cases and controls in the present study.a

The STOP-Bang questionnaire, the NoSAS score, and the Berlin questionnaire showed that 12 (30%), 23 (57.5%), and 24 (60%) of the patients with cHP, respectively, were at a high risk of OSA. There were no significant differences between cases with and without OSA regarding the STOP-Bang questionnaire, NoSAS, and ESS scores. The sensitivity of the NoSAS score for cHP was 55%, with a specificity of 46%. The PSQI was higher in cases than in controls (9; IQR, 7-13 vs. 6; IQR, 4-9.8; p < 0.01).

In the cHP group, the AHI was directly correlated with the BMI (rs = 0.38, p = 0.02) and T90 (rs = 0.67, p < 0.01), as well as being inversely correlated with baseline, mean, and minimum SpO2 during polysomnography, the correlation being highest with the last of the three (rs = −0.70, p < 0.001). In addition, the AHI did not correlate with age, neck circumference, FVC, DLCO, resting SpO2, or SpO2 at the end of exercise. Furthermore, T90 correlated inversely with percent predicted DLCO (p = 0.06) and, more strongly, with awake SpO2 at baseline on polysomnography (rs = −0.87, p < 0.001; Figure 1). Of the 20 cHP patients with baseline SpO2 ≥ 93% on polysomnography, only 1 (5%) spent more than 10% of the total sleep time below an SpO2 of 90%.

Figure 1
Correlation between baseline SpO2 and the percentage of total sleep time spent below an SpO2 of 90% (T90) on polysomnography.

DISCUSSION

In the present study, the prevalence of OSA in patients with cHP was high; however, contrary to expectations, it was lower than that in a group of matched controls with normal spirometry, randomly selected from the general population. The reasons for this are obscure. Many problems can occur during the selection of cases and controls in this type of study.2222 Mann CJ. Observational research methods. Research design II: cohort, cross sectional, and case-control studies. Emerg Med J. 2003;20(1):54-60. https://doi.org/10.1136/emj.20.1.54
https://doi.org/10.1136/emj.20.1.54...
In the group of patients with cHP in the present study, the AHI was directly correlated with the BMI, although not with FVC, DLCO, resting SpO2, or SpO2 at the end of exercise. As expected, patients with cHP had more hypoxemia during sleep. The present study did not include individuals with markedly compromised lung function or low resting SaO2. It has been shown that patients with more severe ILD have a higher oxygen desaturation index and a higher AHI.44 Pihtili A, Bingol Z, Kiyan E, Cuhadaroglu C, Issever H, Gulbaran Z. Obstructive sleep apnea is common in patients with interstitial lung disease. Sleep Breath. 2013;17(4):1281-1288. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-013-0834-3
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-013-0834-...

OSA is an important public health problem, with an increasing prevalence and a high rate of underdiagnosis in patients with ILD. We used sleep questionnaires in an attempt to identify cHP patients who were at an increased risk of OSA and who might benefit from polysomnography. However, we found no correlation between OSA risk as assessed by the questionnaires and a polysomnographic diagnosis of OSA. Therefore, the questionnaires had limited value in predicting OSA in cHP patients. In the present study, we subjectively assessed sleepiness using the ESS. A median ESS score of 5.5 shows that, in general, cHP patients are less sleepy, regardless of the presence of OSA. Although the ESS score has been found to be higher in patients with IPF than in normal controls,99 Mermigkis C, Stagaki E, Amfilochiou A, Polychronopoulos V, Korkonikitas P, Mermigkis D, et al. Sleep quality and associated daytime consequences in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Med Princ Pract. 2009;18(1):10-15. https://doi.org/10.1159/000163039
https://doi.org/10.1159/000163039...
,2323 Krishnan V, McCormack MC, Mathai SC, Agarwal S, Richardson B, Horton MR, et al. Sleep quality and health-related quality of life in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Chest. 2008;134(4):693-698. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.08-0173
https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.08-0173...
it was within the normal range in the present study, showing that excessive daytime sleepiness was not significant. Mermigkis et al.66 Mermigkis C, Stagaki E, Tryfon S, Schiza S, Amfilochiou A, Polychronopoulos V, et al. How common is sleep-disordered breathing in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?. Sleep Breath. 2010;14(4):387-390. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-010-0336-5
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-010-0336-...
showed that only 20% of patients with IPF reported excessive daytime sleepiness. Thus, it is clear that the ESS score is poor at predicting OSA in patients with ILD. Our results confirm that the sleep questionnaires used in the present study have low accuracy in identifying individuals at risk of OSA, regardless of the cutoff point used for the AHI.2424 Kapur VK, Auckley DH, Chowdhuri S, Kuhlmann DC, Mehra R, Ramar K, et al. Clinical Practice Guideline for Diagnostic Testing for Adult Obstructive Sleep Apnea: An American Academy of Sleep Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Sleep Med. 2017;13(3):479-504. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.6506
https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.6506...
Polysomnography remains the only tool with sufficient sensitivity and specificity to confirm or exclude a diagnosis of OSA in patients with ILD.

In the present study, the cHP patients reported worse sleep quality than did the controls. Poor sleep quality and its impact on daytime functioning and quality of life can be underestimated in patients with ILD, in whom symptoms such as fatigue, tiredness, and drowsiness can be ascribed to lung disease. Our results for cHP patients are similar to those reported by Mermigkis99 Mermigkis C, Stagaki E, Amfilochiou A, Polychronopoulos V, Korkonikitas P, Mermigkis D, et al. Sleep quality and associated daytime consequences in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Med Princ Pract. 2009;18(1):10-15. https://doi.org/10.1159/000163039
https://doi.org/10.1159/000163039...
and Krishnan et al.,2323 Krishnan V, McCormack MC, Mathai SC, Agarwal S, Richardson B, Horton MR, et al. Sleep quality and health-related quality of life in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Chest. 2008;134(4):693-698. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.08-0173
https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.08-0173...
who found that the quality of sleep as measured by the PSQI was worse in IPF patients than in normal controls, and reduced sleep quality correlated with reduced health-related quality of life. The sleep pattern in patients with cHP is impaired, and we observed changes in sleep architecture, including increased sleep latency, reduced sleep efficiency, and a lower percentage of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the last finding having no statistical significance. Previous studies of patients with fibrotic ILD have shown increased non-REM (stage N1 and N2) sleep, reduced slow-wave sleep, and reduced REM sleep.44 Pihtili A, Bingol Z, Kiyan E, Cuhadaroglu C, Issever H, Gulbaran Z. Obstructive sleep apnea is common in patients with interstitial lung disease. Sleep Breath. 2013;17(4):1281-1288. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-013-0834-3
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-013-0834-...
,99 Mermigkis C, Stagaki E, Amfilochiou A, Polychronopoulos V, Korkonikitas P, Mermigkis D, et al. Sleep quality and associated daytime consequences in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Med Princ Pract. 2009;18(1):10-15. https://doi.org/10.1159/000163039
https://doi.org/10.1159/000163039...
,2525 Perez-Padilla R, West P, Lertzman M, Kryger MH. Breathing during sleep in patients with interstitial lung disease. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1985;132(2):224-229. Several mechanisms can contribute to sleep fragmentation in patients with ILD, including hypoxemia. However, we found that the severity of ILD (as assessed by lung function parameters such as FVC, DLCO, and SpO2 during exercise or by arterial blood gas analysis) did not correlate with the AHI.

Studies examining sleep in patients with cHP have been few in number and have included patients with ILD of varying etiologies and samples consisting predominantly of patients with IPF, showing a high prevalence of OSA in this population; however, the prevalence of OSA was not compared between cases and healthy controls in those studies.44 Pihtili A, Bingol Z, Kiyan E, Cuhadaroglu C, Issever H, Gulbaran Z. Obstructive sleep apnea is common in patients with interstitial lung disease. Sleep Breath. 2013;17(4):1281-1288. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-013-0834-3
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-013-0834-...

5 Lancaster LH, Mason WR, Parnell JA, Rice TW, Loyd JE, Milstone AP, et al. Obstructive sleep apnea is common in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Chest. 2009;136(3):772-778. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.08-2776
https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.08-2776...
-66 Mermigkis C, Stagaki E, Tryfon S, Schiza S, Amfilochiou A, Polychronopoulos V, et al. How common is sleep-disordered breathing in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?. Sleep Breath. 2010;14(4):387-390. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-010-0336-5
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-010-0336-...
,88 Troy LK, Young IH, Lau EMT, Wong KKH, Yee BJ, Torzillo PJ, et al. Nocturnal hypoxaemia is associated with adverse outcomes in interstitial lung disease. Respirology. 2019;24(10):996-1004. https://doi.org/10.1111/resp.13549
https://doi.org/10.1111/resp.13549...
,1212 Bosi M, Milioli G, Fanfulla F, Tomassetti S, Ryu JH, Parrino L, et al. OSA and Prolonged Oxygen Desaturation During Sleep are Strong Predictors of Poor Outcome in IPF. Lung. 2017;195(5):643-651. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-017-0031-4
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-017-0031-...
,1313 Gille T, Didier M, Boubaya M, Moya L, Sutton A, Carton Z, et al. Obstructive sleep apnoea and related comorbidities in incident idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Eur Respir J. 2017;49(6):1601934. https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.01934-2016
https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.01934-2...
The study with the largest number of HP patients showed an OSA prevalence of 69.4% in patients with ILD, of 83.3% in patients with IPF, and of 76.2% in patients with cHP.1111 Pereira N, Cardoso AV, Mota PC, Santos AC, Melo N, Morais A, et al. Predictive factors of obstructive sleep apnoea in patients with fibrotic lung diseases. Sleep Med. 2019;56:123-127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2019.01.020
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2019.01....

In our study, nocturnal hypoxemia correlated significantly and as expected with PaO2, awake SpO2 during polysomnography, and DLCO. Awake SpO2 and SpO2 during exercise have been shown to correlate significantly but weakly with nocturnal hypoxemia in some studies,88 Troy LK, Young IH, Lau EMT, Wong KKH, Yee BJ, Torzillo PJ, et al. Nocturnal hypoxaemia is associated with adverse outcomes in interstitial lung disease. Respirology. 2019;24(10):996-1004. https://doi.org/10.1111/resp.13549
https://doi.org/10.1111/resp.13549...
,1010 Kolilekas L, Manali E, Vlami KA, Lyberopoulos P, Triantafillidou C, Kagouridis K, et al. Sleep oxygen desaturation predicts survival in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. J Clin Sleep Med. 2013;9(6):593-601. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.2758
https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.2758...
,2626 Clark M, Cooper B, Singh S, Cooper M, Carr A, Hubbard R. A survey of nocturnal hypoxaemia and health related quality of life in patients with cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis. Thorax. 2001;56(6):482-486. https://doi.org/10.1136/thx.56.6.482
https://doi.org/10.1136/thx.56.6.482...
,2727 Midgren B. Oxygen desaturation during sleep as a function of the underlying respiratory disease. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1990;141(1):43-46. https://doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm/141.1.43
https://doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm/141.1.43...
but not in others.2828 Corte TJ, Wort SJ, Talbot S, Macdonald PM, Hansel DM, Polkey M, et al. Elevated nocturnal desaturation index predicts mortality in interstitial lung disease. Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis. 2012;29(1):41-50.

29 Bye PT, Issa F, Berthon-Jones M, Sullivan CE. Studies of oxygenation during sleep in patients with interstitial lung disease. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1984;129(1):27-32.
-3030 Pitsiou G, Bagalas V, Boutou A, Stanopoulos I, Argyropoulou-Pataka P. Should we routinely screen patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis for nocturnal hypoxemia?. Sleep Breath. 2013;17(2):447-448. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-012-0716-0
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-012-0716-...
We found no correlation between nocturnal hypoxemia and SpO2 during exercise. Troy et al.88 Troy LK, Young IH, Lau EMT, Wong KKH, Yee BJ, Torzillo PJ, et al. Nocturnal hypoxaemia is associated with adverse outcomes in interstitial lung disease. Respirology. 2019;24(10):996-1004. https://doi.org/10.1111/resp.13549
https://doi.org/10.1111/resp.13549...
found a significant correlation between T90 and ILD severity markers such as daytime SpO2, SpO2 during exercise, and DLCO. Corte et al.2828 Corte TJ, Wort SJ, Talbot S, Macdonald PM, Hansel DM, Polkey M, et al. Elevated nocturnal desaturation index predicts mortality in interstitial lung disease. Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis. 2012;29(1):41-50. found that 78% of patients with nocturnal hypoxemia had no decrease in oxygen saturation after exercise. Therefore, nocturnal hypoxemia cannot be excluded when PaO2 is normal at rest or during exercise.

The present study has limitations that should be noted. First, the sample size was relatively small, with a predominance of women. In Brazil, however, cHP is more common in women than in men, because indoor exposures are more common in the former than in the latter. Thus, the demographic characteristics of our study population are similar to those reported in the literature.11 Pereira CA, Gimenez A, Kuranishi L, Storrer K. Chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis. J Asthma Allergy. 2016;9:171-181. https://doi.org/10.2147/JAA.S81540
https://doi.org/10.2147/JAA.S81540...
Furthermore, although OSA is more common in men, it becomes more common in postmenopausal women.3131 Veasey SC, Rosen IM. Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Adults. N Engl J Med. 2019;380(15):1442-1449. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMcp1816152
https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMcp1816152...
,3232 Haddad F, Bittencourt L. Recomendações para o Diagnóstico e Tratamento da Síndrome da Apneia Obstrutiva do Sono no Adulto. São Paulo: Estação Brasil; 2013. Cases and controls were matched for sex in the present study, meaning that the results cannot be attributed to differences between the sexes. Second, although cHP is common in Brazil, it is often diagnosed at an advanced or progressive stage, and this limits the inclusion of cHP patients. The fact that patients with cHP and hypoxemia during wakefulness or receiving oxygen therapy were not included in the present study is, therefore, another limitation, because the prevalence of OSA could be higher in this population. Third, the fact that the same investigator collected the anthropometric data and administered the questionnaires could have resulted in measurement bias. Finally, the first night effect (when patients are in unfamiliar surroundings) of polysomnography may have also influenced the results. However, given that this effect was common to cases and controls, this limitation becomes less critical.

In summary, the prevalence of OSA in cHP patients (cases) was high, although not higher than in controls with normal spirometry. In addition, cases had more hypoxemia during sleep than did controls. Nocturnal hypoxemia was common and related to baseline oxygen saturation during wakefulness. Our results suggest that sleep questionnaires do not have sufficient discriminatory power to identify OSA in cHP patients.

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  • Financial support:

    None.
  • Study carried out in the Disciplina de Pneumologia, Departamento de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP - São Paulo (SP) Brasil.

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    30 Oct 2023
  • Date of issue
    2023

History

  • Received
    03 Feb 2023
  • Accepted
    11 July 2023
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